Playing with an Arabian Wolf at the Ganey Ha’Teva in Tel-Aviv, Israel

The Hoopoe, Upupa epops, is a colourful bird that is found across Afro-Eurasia, notable for its distinctive ‘crown’ of feathers. The Hoopoe is a medium sized bird, 25–32 cm (9.8-12.6 in) long, with a 44–48 cm (17.3–19 in) wingspan weighing 46-89 g (1.6-3.1 oz). The diet of the Hoopoe is mostly composed of insects, although small reptiles and frogs as well as some plant matter such as seeds and berries are sometimes taken as well. It is a solitary forager which typically feeds on the ground. More commonly their foraging style is to stride on relatively open ground and periodically pause to probe the ground with the full length of their bill. Insect larvae, pupae and mole crickets are detected by the bill and either extracted or dug out with the strong feet. (Wiki.)

Submitted by dreamthrop: Seen at Rosh haNikra in Israel. I have no idea what it is though, do you? -Arielle

In fact, I do know what it is. I even work with them!

The Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis), or Cape Hyrax, is one of the four living species of the order Hyracoidea. It is a medium-sized (~4 kg) terrestrial mammal, superficially resembling a guinea pig with short ears and tail. The closest living relatives to hyraxes are the modern day elephants and sirenians. Rock hyraxes are very noisy and sociable. Adults make use of at least 21 different vocal signals. The most familiar signal is a high trill, and is given in response to perceived danger. (Wiki.)

Baby Gazelle

Two of these orphaned baby gazelles were brought in on the same day last week. They are to be “mothered” by the head staffwoman of the Gan HaTeva. Though an older gazelle in the facility is wary of humans, these two infants are quickly becoming used to our presence.

Photo by Disposable City

Red Fox

Photo by Disposable City

Red Fox

This fox is very old and despite having serious eye problems, there is nothing the Gan HaTeva can do about it because to fix his eyes would mean he would need to be sedated but to sedate him they run the risk that he doesnt wake back up at all.

Photo by Disposable City

Short Toed Eagle

Photo by Disposable City

Wild Boar

Photo by Disposable City

Israeli Desert Kitten

Photo by Disposable City

Striped Hyena

Recently someone asked me what was the coolest animal Ive ever interacted with and I answered that I had just that day met a hyena. This is that hyena. Her name is Nella. It was hard to capture an unobstructed photo of her because she kept pushing up against the enclosure so that we would pet her and she could lick our hands.

Photo by Disposable City

Golden Jackal

This week, I started working at a nature conservation center called Gan HaTeva, in Tel Aviv, Israel where we care for a variety of animals native to the country, including jackals, a hyena, wild boars, gazelles, hyrax, bats, foxes, porcupines, venomous snakes, wildcats an array of different species of birds, to name a few. My responsibilities include preparing food and feeding certain animals, cleaning enclosures, as well as helping to care for ill and wounded animals. Fortunately this offers me a lot of opportunity to interact with some amazing creatures.

Today I took my girlfriend to see the facility and she took some photos of the many different residents of Gan HaTeva B’Tel Aviv.

Photos by Disposable City

Vipera palaestinae is a venomous viper species found in the historical region known as Palestine, which now includes western Syria, northwestern Jordan, northern and central Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. Considered a leading cause of snakebite within its range. No subspecies are currently recognized.(Wiki.)

Painted Saw-Scaled Viper Looking At The Camera

While hiking in the Negev (Israel), I came across this snake. I was not sure what species it was, all I knew was that it was venomous because you could see its venom glands behind its eye and you could tell by the shape of its head.  I think it may have been a Painted Saw-Scaled Viper, but I can’t be sure because of the strange coloration.

The Golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a medium-sized species of canid which inhabits north and north-eastern Africa, south-eastern and central Europe (up to Austria and Hungary, Asia minor, the Middle East and south east Asia. The cry of a golden jackal consists of a long wailing howl which is repeated three or four times, each repetition in a note a little higher than the preceding, and then a succession of usually three quick yelps, also repeated two or three times. (Wiki.)

I live on Kibbutz Ma’abarot in Israel, and every night I hear the Golden Jackals howling.  They sit right outside of the Kibbutz fence and howl for about fifteen minutes each night, scaring the dog that lives in my house. It is both eerie and exciting to hear them howling so close to me.